I'd Love it if You'd Share...Pretty Please with a Cherry on Top?

 What are Picker Fails?

Things you buy with hopes they'll sell, but they turn into duds. 
Only experience teaches you this, so here's mine...

*Vintage scarves…For me, these only sell in lots or groupings

*Men’s vintage electric razors….I must have been the only one that thought these old models were pretty cool.

*Beanie babies…probably another 50 years before these are valuable

Update: These finally did sell!

*Decks of cards do not do well for me…they used to sell, but not in a long time. These are vintage airline decks too, but they do not sell well if the box has been opened.

*Industrial brushes….a risky buy that turned into a dud

*Acrylic pen rest set without the pen…just one word for this….DUH

*Model railroad stuff…too much of it on Ebay already

*Handheld Scrabble…just because the big Scrabble game sells doesn’t mean this one will.

*Copper kitchen molds…there are pages & pages of these on Ebay and Etsy.

*Cute dog mug with damaged handle goes nowhere….what, you don’t want a cracked handle? But it’s such a cute mug!

*Vintage Girl Scout vest….I heard these sold, but not for me.

*Books..for me, they are slow sellers.

*Off Brand Perfumes….full name brand perfumes will sell, but not off-brand varieties

*Green stamp books…as soon as someone listed the first set, all the others in the world came out of the woodwork. Now these are useless.

Update: These actually sold to one of my readers

*Knives in knife blocks…I’ve found the best way to sell these is individually. 

I have plenty of picker fails, and since I refuse to get rid of even the duds, I still have ’em because cheapskate picker who lives in a Depression Thinking world, does not throw anything away! Experienced & wannabe sellers take note…don’t be burned by these picker fails!

So Why Buy in the First Place?

We pickers buy for many reasons, and get caught up in the emotion just like you do! I buy :

…if I think it’ll sell for me…either on Ebay or Etsy.

…anything to do with the Beatles 

…to enjoy for a bit, then out it goes. I keep very little because at my age, I need to get RID of stuff! 

…if I can use it to decorate or repurpose something else I have.

…if I have a hunch. My hunches are not always good….LOL

…if I’m desperate! This is the “I-really-don’t-see-anything-here-but-I-want-to-buy-something” mentality.

To see more on this topic, check out 11 Things I Avoid at Thrift Stores, Yard & Estate Sales.

For tips on what to buy for resale, check out my list: Top Ten Things I Look for at Yard Sales.

Anyone have a fail? Care to share?

I'd Love it if You'd Share...Pretty Please with a Cherry on Top?

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Florence

Owner at Vintage Southern Picks

As an experienced online seller for 19 years, I reveal some of my selling secrets. In my Vintage Finds posts, I show what I buy for resale, and what sells per month. Because many items are vintage and need TLC, I show the refurbish process to make them attractive for resale. I love picking, junking, thrifting, and shabby chic style.

Latest posts by Florence (see all)

• The Latest Vintage Hauls - February 10, 2020
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• September Sales on Etsy and My New Antique Booth - September 30, 2019
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